Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 is Still Important

[@SurprisedPika666]

Yay, someone else who loves the 2003 version.

[@manofwisdom000]

Right. 😁

[@sombreset9792]

Happy 20 year anniversary to my favorite anime of all time! Thank you for giving it the support and love it deserves.

[@Teddy3230-u4d]

Full Metal is so popular that Brotherhood was made with the assumption that most viewers had seen it so the early parts which are essentially the same weren’t really given much love. It’s why Nina’s and Hugh’s deaths hit so much harder in the 03 anime

[@RokkouA1]

This isn't true according to the director of Brotherhood. If you go back to the manga, the majority of Brotherhood follows closely to the pace of the manga, it really went that fast with a few exceptions. FMA03 was made knowing that they didn't have much source material and they were going to diverge from the manga. Which is likely why they took their time with the early parts since that's all they had to work with. With that being said, it went well for 2003's early parts which hit a lot harder than even the manga. I get it, coming off of 03 to Brotherhood is rough and that's probably why this rumour started.

[@Personarose]

Actually they wanted Brotherhood to end around the same time of the manga so that is more of an explanation as to why they sped through the early chapters.

[@kunaldebnath3879]

2023 marks the 20th anniversary of FMA 2003 🖤

[@princessthyemis]

oh my gooooosh /pos

[@thelocalmaxtax]

Really great to see a video that talks about how good this show looks. Feels incredibly bizzare that it's seemingly accepted that Brotherhood "looks better" the use of lighting in 2003 is some of the best I've seen in any animated show.

[@Raqueltl2017]

The OST and "photography" from the 2003 adaptation are better than the brotherhood adaptation. It blows my mind that the show is 20 years old. I feel kinda old now.

[@Dualgas]

FMA03 is also my favourite anime of all time. I've seen a lot of praise for its characters, plot, and themes but this is the first praise I've heard for the animation and visuals, which is another aspect of the show I adore. I didn't know about the differences between the Blurays and DVDs, I'll definitely keep that in mind for my next rewatch. Also, really good job on the editing!

[@Dualgas]

I would be interested in seeing your thoughts on Brotherhood as well. My feelings are similar to what Etheri0n outlines in his vid. I feel its themes are often dealt with a sloppy and heavy-handed way, chance and contrivance are responsible for many major plot points in ways that take agency away from the characters, and the plot is constructed very bizarrely overall with the North arc especially being slow and largely unmeaningful.

[@dvides89]

Great video, the only criticism is you didn’t include Bratja in your selection. That song literally brings tears to my eyes remembering the finale.

[@katakanatabro2048]

^

[@AKAESM]

Clearly superior to Brotherhood from the character development, themes, pacing and villain reveals.

[@manofwisdom000]

Yep. Straight up.

[@katakanatabro2048]

One thing I like about the dub is that in Episode 42s first segment, the track 'Instigation' plays and the voices gradually raise decibels over it, and it feels so good when it happens. It's an insane build up, attention to detail in 03 extends to even so much as the dub honestly.

[@AdmarilDarius]

Hard to believe a video of this quality is coming from a channel with only 167 subscribers. Keep up this quality and the algorithm will probably lift you up.

[@ceciliafaith4132]

This is hands-down my favorite anime (which probably isn’t saying much since I’ve only watched 5 in full, but still). From the characters, to the deep philosophical core, to the animation/ cinematography, and the music (which I probably listen to in excess, but I don’t care), there is so much to love. Thank you so much for making this video; it’s sad to see this show get overlooked and pushed to the wayside, so I always love it when someone comes in to express they’re just as passionate as I am. (Also, I will 100% be waiting for your video discussing BH. Wish more people would express some negative opinions about it.)

[@haosmagnaingram6992]

Eh this is the first time I’ve seen someone else comment on the chimera line from episode 1. I mentioned it before on a Lowart video and some other places. It makes me happy that other people appreciate this dub decision too.

[@ceciliafaith4132]

I tried to watch the sub after I finished the show, and I’ve only made it 3 episodes because of how much better the dialogue is in the dub.

[@koskk_]

I hadn't watched either FMA in over a decade. And I gave them both a rewatch recently. Bro I had forgotten just how absolutely amazing FMA 03 is. Especially how character motivated this story is. While I do still like brotherhood it would have benefitted so much by doing the same character-driven legwork of the 03 series. Especially when the characters are forced to change by the narrative. Like Ed's confrontation w/ Greed in 03. It's so meaningful b/c his hand is forced and he ends up killing Greed. He's forced to realize this is a messy road he's on, and it can only escalate from there. In brotherhood, Ed and Al's conviction to never kill doesn't get challenged in any meaningful way. The closest is when Kimblee nearly kills Ed, but it just makes that conviction become borderline frustrating at times for how impractical it is. It feels like a level of naivety the series pretends was stripped from them on their journey; meanwhile 03 genuinely stripes them of that naive notion. That is to say. Fine I'll go rewatch it again.

[@maximvs272]

why does the end bit go this hard lmao

[@cdscissor]

I didn't like your first video, I'll be honest. But this, not only redeems you but makes me respect you for not only putting together such a good amount of non-spoily info about this series but also that you were able to present it in a very engaging way. Amazing video deserves thousands more views, man. Love it.

[@Figgy5119]

That 2003 FMA is infinitely better than Brotherhood is a hill that I am willing to die on.

[@dr.trousers6101]

Good on you pal

[@YanatheJudasGoat]

The "That Guy With The Glasses" bit sent me XD Been watching a lot of FMA 2003 videos lately but you were the first person I saw who talked about the differences between the Blu-Ray and DVD versions, thanks for that! So cool to see a kind of Renaissance of FMA '03 fans praising the original show lately, given that sooo much of the discourse surrounding FMA adaptations for the past 10 years was mostly just Broho fans being dismissive of the original because it's "not like the manga". I was one of those people who watched Broho first. Then I decided to watch the first half of '03 (without all the so-called "filler") and rewatch the second half of Broho. What an interesting and disjointed experience it was. If it weren't for GoatJesus whose videos convinced me to watch '03 in its entirety I probably would've left the original series incomplete. Would've been one of the greatest mistakes of my life, 'cause now I'm an avid '03 supporter, heh. I watched Broho when I was about 12-13 and watched '03 fully at 16, I honestly feel like their respective stories fit these particular age demographics perfectly (and from my experience when you're an adult Broho starts to feel more and more underwhelmingly childish while '03 ages like fine wine as you grow up).

[@mr.l3938]

Another fma03 banger love seein it

[@TippyBard]

I remember first watching the series on dvd. I saw the cover art for the first volume and bought it on a whim in high school. They included an insert with the release schedules for other series and later volumes when they would come out so I just ended up buying the whole series as it released and binged about 4 episodes in a sitting. It was my only way to access it at the time. Still own it!

Brotherhood is better but I still like 2003 more. The vibes are so different. So dark. Loving it.

[@lovesoderpalm1555]

Its the goat

[@riastarthay]

Unfathomably based, the entire way through.

[@mboseman2895]

Awesome video! Can't wait to see your video discussing Brotherhood!

[@miketusz131]

Amazing video, what a man of culture through and through

[@Kagatsuo]

Insanely underrated video man

[@mrkaji8913]

15:08 archers theme. It’s meant to be a nod to terminator

[@iantaran2843]

2003 + Conquerer of Shamballa is close to my heart and on my top 10

[@mdandrews]

Every time I discover a fellow believer (that FMA03 is far superior to FMAB) I subscribe without delay. Well done!

[@aidan8473]

Fma03 holds up

[@kiravampira1456]

Knowing the real life version of Lust (without even trying) and seeing the ending part (she posted, before this video being uploaded, a selfie with that part of the song as background music) made me gasp.🖤

[@Testgeraeusch]

I recently started reading the manga and at a few key plo points my reaction was not "Oh, so this is how it turns" but rather "Huh. The twist in the anime was much stronger, somehow." Also, upvote for the conclusion; you had me almost fall off my chair laughting and headbanging.

[@allanchon1361]

Im with ya. Brotherhood is simply too campy. The somber delivery of this adaptation got me hooked on anime

[@mrkaji8913]

I just love Edward and winry have the same vocies as tamaki and haduhi

[@the_bills8049]

Nice , greetings from discord

[@kungawombabala9314]

This anime slaps❤😊

[@MultiYoshiman]

epic banger, good work, excited for the fmab hater vid

[@Boondocks1996-wk5vz]

You 2003 fans love having some sense of self validation.

[@manofwisdom000]

@@Boondocks1996-wk5vzYou Brotherhood fans love yourselves some form of preschool and Saturday Morning Cartoon combined.

[@JetsFittedUp]

"420 subscribers" 🍃

[@doubleflores8350]

*Brotherhood exists* Fma 03 fans: and I took that personally. Brotherhood fans: I’m gonna end 03’s whole cereer! Me: can’t you both get along and stop bashing each other. Both FMA series are fantastic in their own right! Brotherhood and 03 fans: NEVER!

[@manofwisdom000]

2003 is superior to Brotherhood. 😐

[@Pucciii882]

i think brotherhood is pretty good tho 2003 is great but brotherhoods beats and endings were well executed imo

[@thatll-do7606]

I personally prefer 03, with it having better characterization in general if you ask me, but I have to admit it makes some odd decisions that fall flat, come out of nowhere, or just peter out towards the end, while Brotherhood's plot beats mostly work a lot more smoothly and are generally more consistent and have better sense of the world and how it works

[@themathgod9567]

honestly i feel funimation should've taken a quote from doctor who and just upscaled it to 1080i/30 this would make the image sharper and animation smoother best of both worlds

[@n.e.2570]

Omg, I can't wait to see Brotherhood getting taken down another peg, I'll be waiting for that video xD. Always refreshing to find another '03 enthusiast in the wild lol. Like, I enjoyed my time with Broho decently enough, but nothing it ever did managed to resonate with me as much as 03 did. At the end it's just slightly seasoned Shounen chicken breast to me. I would be more than fine to shrug it off, since it ultimately is a preference thing which version's approach to story-telling you prefer, but what really turned me sour towards Broho is the loud, rabid part of the fanbase, which keeps shitting on '03 (70% of the time without even having watched it!!!) JUST because it differs from the source material, even though it still has so much to offer, really delves deeply into its characters and explores so many interesting themes with such nuance.

[@a.m.theshinyjohtohunter4287]

Only reason I ever reccomend watching until the 5th laboratory and switching over to brotherhood is because brotherhood pacing and storytelling is HORRIBLE for getting someone new Into FMA as a whole. Personally yeah, I would just plunk someone down and watch the original 03 rather than brotherhood for first time watching. And I listen to the 03 track during goat kidding season as the music really nails the highs and gut wrenching lows of farming life. Like the birth of Aleicia Hughs and the death of Nina Tucker... New goat kids successfully born or finding one died and there's nothing you can do... Absolutely heartbreaking.

[@manofwisdom000]

I always recommend to watch 03 in its entirety and then Brotherhood for newcomers. 💀💀 They’re separate shows each with a different story despite similarities here and there.

[@borneoboi2109]

I could understand the take that brotherhood is far superior if it didn't hamstring itself with the cartoonish comedy everytime something heavy happens. Also the first 20 episodes are such a downgrade to the beginning of 03. 03 fma is my favorite anime so I'm heavily biased lol

[@Alkinski]

FMAB/manga are overally better and more coherent story, 03/CoS are more of a personal story about the consequences of one's actions. I honestly can't decide which one I like more.

[@manofwisdom000]

Another Brotherhood fan boy or fan girl.

[@NotOrdinaryInGames]

Only early DVD volumes are good, later 2 brick volumes cram too many episodes on a disk, and there is extra compression and colour is washed out as a result. Also, the openings were never ANIMATED at 30fps, that is non-standard. Effects may have been added, but that is it. And...... the green Winry tractor moment is horrible, non-corrected interlacing. ALSO also......... you actually told people to watch something on a CRT. While a good LED screen will do perfectly.

[@mrkaji8913]

24:04 she’s kushina

[@AstroNotTheBoy]

03 is better because it gave us Conqueror of Shamballa

[@sat4428]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@RetroRanger88]

Hottest take I've seen on this website, hoo boy

[@Persewna4]

100% agreed. I mean, I recognize the film has weaknesses, but I personally adore it, enough that I actually own four copies of it 😅 (the original DVD, the collector's edition dvd, another dvd that had a hologram cover, and the blu-ray). Also, the first time I saw it was at an evening showing at my very first anime convention. Getting to see a movie that continued my favorite show of all time, in a room full of anime fans - it was magical.

[@hortonome]

Yes the ending is one of the very reasons I love this anime and Brotherhoods ending is a lot different, so yes 03 is better I agree

[@manofwisdom000]

2003 > Brotherhood always

[@edvard8850]

Let’s be honest the 03 was way more brutal and bloody than brotherhood

[@manofwisdom000]

Yep, while Brotherhood was way more baby-ish and cartoonish. Can’t see how could anyone like it better.

[@iantaran2843]

Broooo you wanna talk about DVDs that put their Blurays to shame ? You gotta see the god awful Digimon Blurays

[@adriansrsa90]

no one bringing up him including anya in the "waifus" section is disturbing...

[@dinisb]

One of the best shows? Idk, Terminarcher doesnt make that much sense and Winry doesnt act normally, i'd say Breaking Bad is more formulated than Fullmetal Alchemist, but in anime, yeah, FMA2003 is one of the best.

[@manofwisdom000]

How Winry “doesnt act normally”? Also, TerminArcher is just one of the fewer flaws of the show. No biggie tho. 💀💀

[@redskeith4737]

videos like this were what git me into rewatching the 2003 anime and I have to say that while I had great yet vague memories of it, I can't see how people compare it so favorably against brotherhood it's not bad but it feels like some filler, like Naruto and bleach levels of filler. yeah there's a plot but it's pacing is poor it's twists to mild its action stilted. it's not bad but it's in par with the bount arc of bleach. yeah there's a story there but it's not at the level of everything around it

[@manofwisdom000]

Do you even hear yourself, kid…

[@mouadchaglalchimistefullme6116]

Good video but the rant of Brotherhood was not nessecary...

[@manofwisdom000]

It is necessary and rightfully so too.

[@jpickens189]

I think it is better directed than Brotherhood, but I don't think it is comparable to shows like Cowboy Bebop, Utena or Eva. Even when it was my favorite anime (like 15 years ago,) I had to admit its writing style always felt insecure and obvious compared to other shows I was watching at the time.

[@genyakozlov1316]

Many despise Evangelion for its obtuse storytelling, so that is very subjective.

[@jpickens189]

​@@genyakozlov1316 Prior to the last two episodes, I would consider Eva creatively conventional in terms of direction. It is the fact that it is working really hard to convey more difficult ideas and generally not spelling everything out in the dialogue that makes the direction impressive to me, and the same can be said of the other two shows I mentioned. Edit: Also, Utena and Eva were both doing a lot to make use of their limited budgets, which enhances my appreciation of how effective they were. I could also list numerous other shows with high quality direction, those are just the ones that popped into my head. Edit Edit: Also, you won't find any judgments in media that aren't pretty much entirely subjective, I am just trying to argue for my perspective.

[@sagewaterdragon]

as a FMAB fan I'm really upset that you spent 48 minutes of this video relentlessly insulting it

[@katakanatabro2048]

why 48 specifically hmm?

[@sagewaterdragon]

@@katakanatabro2048 I'm gonna be completely honest man idk what this is referencing

[@manofwisdom000]

Oh well. 2003 all the way.

[@jakubgodyn7413]

We will not get along. While I liked and enjoyed FMA 2003 I think Brotherhood is a superior series.

[@katakanatabro2048]

I think you can get along

[@manofwisdom000]

@@katakanatabro2048He’s another Brotherhood fan boy or fan girl. Screw them.

[@infamouscha]

@@katakanatabro20482003 lovers are the true alchemists.

[@Uhlbelk]

no, no no no no no, the dub is NEVER NEVER as good as the sub. If the linguistic differences make it difficult for you to understand, the depth and maturity of the writing is going to be too much. Go read some books, get an education, watch brotherhood, then come back and watch this show.

[@haosmagnaingram6992]

Unless you speak fluent Japanese and are currently immersed in the language and culture (living in Japan, lived in or frequently traveling there) you’re always going to be going through a translation barrier, and a lot of the times the subs aren’t quite accurate either or in some cases are less accurate to the spirit of what’s being said than the dub is. In addition to this Japanese voice actors aren’t infallible and will sometimes have performances that are weaker than the dub in terms of actual acting. Also accept that all forms of translation are ultimately a form of adaptation and adaptation’s should be viewed for the merits of their quality and ability to properly convey/explore their themes, adherence to the original is not the end all be all. Final note on the sub vs dub most animators, producers, and directors who work on the shows and when asked tend to say they would prefer for viewers to watch it in a language they understand since subtitles cover up parts of the animation and force a viewer’s attention to the bottom of the screen dividing attention away from a lot of the animation and ways the storytelling is conveyed visually. Lastly as a side note I’ve watched both 2003 and brotherhood subbed. I still greatly prefer the 2003 version.

[@Uhlbelk]

@@haosmagnaingram6992 one of the benefits of the sub is that you are not distracted by the words over the acting. So it is much harder to judge the quality of the voice actors. Secondly, you get the acting that the original director wanted. Which I find is much better related to the actual animation. If a joke is supposed to be deadpan the acting lets you know it is deadpan when it is translated and dubbed you can frequently get a poor delivery that doesn't match the show. While its possible a remake of a show/play/movie to be done better or as well as the original, I don't find that the case in anime. Every small benefit like not needing to read is outweighed by a dozen little problems. Even the cultural language barrier isn't ever going to get fixed in translation, but through the acting and writing, at least you can grasp that it exists, such as word plays with Ichigo's name in Bleach. I will throw one big caveat here. I think this most relevant in anime that is serious and dramatic with complex story telling. If it is mostly a childs show with flashy animation and childish dialog, it doesn't matter, that nuance of matching dialog and acting isn't important enough. Dragonball, not important, Rurouni Kenshin, important.

[@EIDiabeetus]

FMA whether 03 or Brotherhood, I prefer it in English, Amestris is a western style world. I've watched both series in both languages. There are certain performances I prefer in each language/adaptation, but this is good in either language.

[@Boondocks1996-wk5vz]

I also fail to see how Brotherhood is much worse, when it plot doesn't fall apart and become a jumbled mess like 2003.

[@tetitous]

less interesting graphic direction, had to correct plot holes due to rushing past the beginning, very weak first episode, maybe too many exposition scenes and some lack of subtlety, less interesting main antagonist and either doing things too black and white or too centrist when it comes to the aspects of morality (by that I mean, sure in war everyone suffers, but maybe don't imply that the people who litteraly lost everything to war are in the exact same basket as those who did the destroying but regret it), some stakes fall flat quite fast, missed opportunities for character building in favor of the "big picture" are constant, if I think about it more I can find more. You saying the plot falls apart in doesn't really mean anything aside from "haha, I didn't get it", how does the plot of 2003 fall apart exactly? Because you didn't see it coming? I understand some of my arguments are probably even more subjective than I think but I do hope you realise yours are as well.

[@manofwisdom000]

Where does 2003 fall apart? Brotherhood only has one linear plot with barely any variety and complexity, and thus, is mainly one dimensional filled with random power ups and plot holes altogether.

[@Boondocks1996-wk5vz]

2003 fans just can't help themselves, always starting shit with Brotherhood, and can't admire 2003 in it's own right.

[@apollo1493]

This is very presumptuous. There's no reason why two opinions on two separate works that happen to share some similarities cannot coexist without one directly causing the other.

[@Boondocks1996-wk5vz]

@@apollo1493 Hey, I'm not the one that did the shit talking. The guy in the video did. Broherhood literally had nothing to do with 2003 Anniversary. Yet, you 2003 fans just can't help themself but be salty and bitter.

[@mr.l3938]

You do realize that most fmab fans do the exact same thing to us fma03 fans right? If the dude doesn't like fmab then he doesn't it is what it is chill

[@Boondocks1996-wk5vz]

@@mr.l3938 It happens way more often with 2003 fans, most Brothehood fans don't really care about 2003.

[@apollo1493]

Brotherhood took up 32 seconds of a 26 minute video and he only brought it up to clear up confusion for someone not familiar with FMA as a franchise and to literally say “I won’t be talking about it for the rest of the video”